Forgotten Camera: Mike Fioritto

I recently returned to photography after an absence of more than 15 years. I have been shooting digital and got the bug for a rangefinder camera after looking at some photographs on Flickr. I picked up this Canonet on eBay and ran some Kodak BW400CN (C-41 processing) through it. This is a portrait of my daughter taken with this camera wide-open at ƒ/1.7. Like most camera purchases, this set me down the path to purchasing another—a Voigtländer Bessa R2a with a 40mm ƒ/1.4 lens. I'm shooting Tri-x and processing my own film again, and I am really enjoying it.

Mike Fioritto
Chicago, Illinois

Comments

[Darren M]

This is a really lovely shot and I think a perfect example of two things. First, how technical faults (blown hightlights) and second, how well film still works so well in some cases. This is a really good shot and only adds to the fuel of my fire for wanting a Canonet. Unfortunately, they are really pricey where I am.

[Anders B]

I love this camera. It's one of the cheapest cameras I own and maybe the one I use the most. It took a few minutes to figure out how to hold it comfortably while focusing, but after that it feels like a part of me.

Also, great shot!

[JH]

Thanks for reminding about this nice camera. We used to have a Canon G-III QL 17 (f/1.7) at home, and I spent quite a few hours trying it out and reading through the manual, and of course taking photos with it. My mother had an ancient 6x6cm camera, which I was not allowed to use, but the Canon G-III was more or less free for me to use.

When I was 15 years old, I got a Minolta XG-1 with a 50mm f/1.7 lens. I believe that one of the biggest reasons for buying the Minolta SLR (instead of Canon or Pentax) was the f/1.7 aperture on the standard lens.

[Andrew Smith]

This photograph by itself proves the case for your series on forgotten cameras. Wonderful photograph.

[Christer Almqvist]

a picture full of "stimmung". wonderful!

[Mike J.]

Christer,
Help us out here...my autotranslation widget translates "stimmung" as "tendency."

?

Mike J.

[AJBF]

"stimmung" means atmosphere, mood.

[Stan B.]

Wow, that Canonet looks like a million, compared to most of what's made today... and the portrait sure aint bad either!

[charlie d]

The "eyes" make this photo. Well done and what a nice looking camera.

[stefan]

"stimmung" means "atmosphere" or "spirit"

[Adrian]

Stimmung could be translated to "mood", "atmosphere", "spirit" and more.
http://dict.leo.org is your translator of choice when it comes to german words. (or vice versa for germophones like me)

[Gordon Williams]

Great image! It brings back memories for me, my 1st 35mm was a Canonet 28 http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Canon_Canonet_28 (got it for Christmas of '84 and which I still own). This has inspired me to dust it off and run a roll through it. I'm thinking some BW400CN would be great.

Cheers.

[John]

Mine mine mine!

This was my first camera, which mysteriously appeared in my possession as a teen. Nobody can now remember whose it was before it was mine, but it was definitely a hand-me-down.

I loved that camera, but was jealous of my brother's AE-1 and my father's Yashica. Mine wasn't a real camera, what with the fixed lens and almost-compact body. I used it all through high school, though, until my father passed his Yashica along to me.

Just a couple of years ago, I was fondly remembering that camera, and decided to find out what it was, which led me to finding one on ebay, which led me back to the film world. I've moved on to a Zeiss and a Bronica, but I'm still shooting with that joyful little canonet.

So few cameras just feel so right in my hand.

[John]

In fact, one of my fantasies involves Canon resurrecting this form factor with a monochrome digital sensor. Woot.

[michael]

I have to tell you: that is a wonderful portrait. I am impressed.

[stevierose]

The Canonet is a lovely camera. During the 1970s a number of inexpensive 35mm rangefinders were manufactured. Many of these cameras have remarkably good lenses and other cool innovations such as a mechanical coupling of the rangefinder and aperture settings that allows the photographer to use a flash in manual mode without having to calculate flash parameters for each shot. I have a collection of about a half dozen of these cameras and I love them. They are small, light, very portable and many have 40mm lenses, my favorite single focal length. My favorite, besides the Canonet, is the Olympus 35 RC. The one downside to these cameras is that most require the old mercury cell batteries, but a good camera repairman can adjust them to be able to use newer battery types.

Stephen Gandy has, by far, the best information on these cameras posted on his Cameraquest site:

http://cameraquest.com/com35s.htm

[chrisgware]

Hey Mike, where did you take that shot? As someone lucky enough to have lived in Chicago for 4 years or so, it says Chicago like few other shots I have seen. Congratulations.

[Dave Tran]

I have two of these - my only gripe is that they are a bit fragile. One of them was in a Lowepro lens case which fell off my bag at waist height. The camera fell on a corner of the lens denting the thread and denting the inside of the body as well while cracking the rangefinder window and rendering the meter completely useless.

It still works if I yank on the lens (un-denting the body slightly) before every shutter release.

I've learned my lesson and now use a shoulder strap with a key ring. Take care of your Canonet!

[Paul]

The lens on this camera continues to delight me. As one reviewer wrote, "... if you need a better lens, chances are you need medium format." :)

[Mike Fioritto]

Thanks to all for the nice comments. To chrisgware I took the photograph at Boston Blackies on Grand Ave. As Paul mentions the lens on this camera is pretty amazing. I'm letting my daughter-in-law shoot with it right now. I'm sure she'll enjoy it.

[john Robison]

Fantastic shot. Always wanted one of those GIII's but so far the ones I've found have been inop. Looks like from your results it would be worth the price of a CLA. I should reconsider even one not fully functional.

[Staale S]

Dang. Due to this post, I just ordered a working GIII off ebay, together with a lightseal-replacement kit. Ah, well... must scrounge some batteries next.

[Henry Rogers]

What a beautiful, beautiful photograph! I bet it looks good as a big print and I bet the subject was thrilled with it.

[Jeff Johnston]

Wow! That was my first camera. I'd forgotten all about that.